Things to Look for

You must thank my daughter for my way of thinking this morning. Had she not asked me a certain question last night - who knows where we would be heading today. Her question was simple and innocent enough, however, it reflects much of the thought process of our culture today.

Of course last night American Idol was on the tube. We were unable to watch it as a family so when my daugther came downstairs to catch the ending I had to update her on all the songs, etc. I told her that David Cook had performed a song by Switchfoot. This band happens to be a family favorite. When I told her about the song she said, "Is he a Christian?" That's when the alarm bells go off in my head. Because I have found that we automatically assume that someone is a believe because they sang a song that is performed by Christian artists. Hey - Ozzy Osbourne could sing "Amazing Grace" but it doesn't make him a believer in Christ.

Now, as far as David Cook is concerned I don't know if he is a Christian. I didn't look it up. My point in bringing all of this up is that we are too impressionable. If someone sings a "Christian" song we wonder if they are a believer, if someone thanks God we wonder if they are a follower of Christ. It's the celebrity Christian culture that we have created that often leaves us reeling. Either we assume or someone claims to be a believer and it creates a bond between us and them. Which is fine until someone falls and we are left to pick up the pieces. This is true in the celebrity Christian culture as well as in our world today. We have got to stop taking things at face value.

Let's think about politics for a moment. If a politician thinks that they can get more votes they will talk about their Christian faith whether they are a Christian or not. It's true in politics - it's true in everything. Why do you think Jesus said that we could know people by their fruit? An orange tree can talk and sing about being an apple tree all day long but it doesn't change the fruit. Why does all of this matter? It matters because we don't think anymore. It matters because our young people are so impressionable. It matters because we have churches full of people who have never studied the Bible for themselves and hang on every word of their pastor. It matters because we have millions of voters in this country who vote for a president the same way they do for an American Idol contestant. They don't care about policies (most don't know what the policies are) they just like who they like. It matters because we need to be on guard.

In Matthew 7:15 Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." You get the picture don't you? Looks like sheep - smells like sheep - sounds like sheep - but what's inside will kill you. Why do you think we have so many branches of theology that claims to be Christian? Someone said just enough to sound like a follower of Christ and sucked people into a belief system. The next thing you know thousands of people are sitting out in a field drinking kool-aid. What? You think I may be going a little too far? Then why is it that I can blog about the gifts of the Spirit and I get contacted by church members who say, "You made me get into my Bible today. I had to see it for myself"? It's simple: we get attached to a person and we believe most of what they say OR because we are so attached we don't question the things we disagree with. Jesus says, "BEWARE!"

Let me bring this to a close by sharing with you some things to look for:

Fruit - Does this person's life bear witness to what they say is true?

Discernment - What does your spirit say? Are you in agreement?

Jesus - How is Jesus portrayed? This is how cults and false teachers are identified. This is also why mormons have it all wrong!

Church - How does this person feel about the authority of the church? Do they fall under the church's authority?

If I don't do anything else with this blog I can at least force you to think. I'm not trying to make you cynical - I'm trying to keep you from being mauled by a wolf. Read for yourself, think for yourself, and stand up for yourself. You would be amazed at what God will do in you.

*Just as a side note - David Cook should be the next American Idol. Thank You.